As part of the Australian Defence Force’s commitment to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women Peace and Security – personnel on operations in the Middle East have marked the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

HMAS Arunta's sailors weigh illegal narcotics seized during their operation Manitou patrol in the Middle East region on 8 June 2017.

Coalition forces and government agencies know terrorist organisations use illegal narcotics as one of their primary sources of income to fund criminal activities, so the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is important to mark.

ScanEagle is launched from the flight deck of HMAS Newcastle in the Middle East region.

While she may be the last Australian guided missile frigate to deploy to Operation MANITOU, HMAS Newcastle is the first to deploy on operations with an MH-60R helicopter and a ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System.

(From left) U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and Marine Nationale (French Navy) officials salute during the Combined Task Force 150 Transfer of Authority ceremony held on 13 April 2017.

Royal Australian Navy personnel embedded in the Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150 in the Middle East have completed a highly successful counter-terrorism deployment and are heading home.